THE MĀORI HOUSING NETWORK

Investment strategy 2015-18

Foreword from the Minister for Māori Development I am pleased to release the investment strategy for the Māori HousingNetwork. The Māori Housing Network has been set up in Te PuniKōkiri, effective from 1 July 2015, to lead the Government’s work toimprove housing outcomes for whānau.

When I kept receiving reports of whānau living in caravans, and cold,damp dilapidated houses, I knew something had to be done. Poorhousing results in poor health for whānau, and becomes a majorbarrier for whānau in fulfilling their potential.

For these reasons, I have set up a nationwide Te Puni Kōkiri network. Itwill have a whānau-centred approach to realising whānau housingaspirations through the provision of information and practical supportto whānau and the Māori housing sector.

Whānau have differing housing needs. Housing solutions mustrecognise that whānau will be at a different point on the housingcontinuum, from whānau living in severe housing deprivation, towhānau aspiring to independent home ownership or Māori seeking tobecome housing providers. While their needs will vary over time, whatcan be said with certainty is that whānau seek housing security andstability.

I believe that the most effective form of security will come as a resultof working in partnership, alongside housing providers, whānau, hapūand iwi for the benefit of all.

The partnership approach is also important because the Māori HousingNetwork has a limited pūtea. It will need to work closely withcommunities and with other agencies to ensure we get the maximumbenefit for whānau from available funding.

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The Government’s current housing reforms provide a uniqueopportunity to build some real momentum in addressing Māori housingissues. Many Māori are welcoming the opportunity to become involvedin housing their people and I want to support this interest andenthusiasm.

The Māori Housing Network will need to liaise closely with governmentagencies to ensure active engagement of Māori in this process, to buildtheir capability, and to ensure that the needs of whānau, hapū, iwiMāori and Māori housing providers are accounted for through thedelivery of better targeted housing solutions.

This investment strategy for the Māori Housing Network for 2015-18 isfocused on building the capability of the Network so that it is bestplaced to lead the Government’s response to Māori housing issues,realise the housing aspirations of whānau and, ultimately, enhance thequality of life for whānau. It will take time, but I am confident that realprogress will be made.

Te Whare Āhuru he oranga tangata.

Hon Te Ururoa Flavell

Te Minita Whanaketanga Māori

Māori Housing Network purposeHaving access to safe and healthy homes in the right location, of theright size, and at the right price for current and future generations isimportant to whānau. Housing has an essential role in breaking cyclesof poverty and dependence. Secure, quality housing enables whānauto create and participate in communities (whether urban or rural),contributes to continuity of school attendance and educationalachievement, and leads to better health and justice outcomes.

The Māori Housing Network will adopt a whānau-centred approachto its investments in Māori housing, working closely with Māori toidentify their housing need and enabling them to develop their ownsolutions. To this end, the activities of the Māori Housing Networkwill consist of both demand side and supply side measures acrossthree main pillars of support activity:

1. Supporting whānau to access financial assistance to improvetheir immediate housing situation and to build the capacity ofthe Māori housing sector.

2. Providing leadership, knowledge, connections and practicalsupport on Māori housing-related issues to whānau, hapū andiwi Māori, communities and Māori housing providers.

3. Leading the Government’s strategic approach to Māorihousing, including through the provision of policy advice andinformation to central agencies.

The activity of the Māori Housing Network will contribute to theachievement of its long-term vision for Māori housing – a future inwhich Māori have access to safe, secure and affordable homes, andwhere more Māori have the opportunity to own their own homes.

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Focus on contributing to outcomesThe Māori Housing Network has three medium-term strategic focus areas(explored in detail on pages 8-9) that will help guide its response to theidentified housing needs of Māori. Through its investments (both financialand practical) across these focus areas, the Māori Housing Network willplay an important enabling role in coordinating the efforts of governmentagencies towards improving housing outcomes for whānau.

He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata – the Government’s Māori HousingStrategy – identifies a number of outcomes for Māori housing, theachievement of which is the collective responsibility of governmentagencies that have a role in supporting Māori housing. The outputs of theMāori Housing Network’s investments will directly contribute to improvingthese housing outcomes for whānau.

Māori Housing Network goal:

Whānau Māori live in safe and healthy homes

Māori Housing Network goal:

Whānau Māori live in safe, secure and healthy homes

Improving the quality of housing for whānau

Contributes towards

He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata – the Māori Housing Strategy

Māori housing outcomes:

• Māori homes are insulated, dry, safe and have essential amenities• Individuals and whānau are able to take advantage of home ownership opportunities• Leadership in the Māori housing sector is provided by Māori • Barriers to the utilisation of Māori land for Māori housing are reduced

Building the capability of whānau, hapū and iwi

within the Māori housing sector

Increasing the supply of affordable housing for

Māori

The Māori Housing Network approachTe Puni Kōkiri’s ability to achieve the investment objectives of the MāoriHousing Network will, to a large degree, depend on its ability to developclose relationships and work effectively in partnership with otherstakeholders that have a role in influencing Māori housing outcomes. Thiswill include whānau, hapū and iwi Māori, other central governmentagencies involved in Māori housing, local government authorities, andMāori housing providers.

Engagement and partnership with Māori communities

The Māori Housing Network intends to strengthen the Government’srelationships with Māori by ensuring a whānau-centred approach iscentral to its investments in Māori housing.

By engaging with whānau Māori and communities, the Māori HousingNetwork will obtain important insights into the combined services thatare commonly required to meet Māori housing needs. It will coordinatethe various Māori housing funds it manages to provide tailored fundingthat meets the specific needs of Māori. In building relationships, theMāori Housing Network will also be well placed to work with projectsthroughout the planning and development process.

Engagement and partnership with other government agencies

The Government plays an important role in the Māori housing sectorthrough leading actions to improve Māori housing.

The ability of the Māori Housing Network to better connect centralagencies and align their efforts will be critical for the Network to achieveits goals.

The Māori Housing Network will have limited resources of its own withwhich to instigate positive change. It will therefore seek to work inpartnership with other government agencies to build upon the existingactions across government. The Māori Housing Network will engageclosely with other agencies to provide advice on their policy settings, lead

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the strategic discussion on Māori housing and coordinate collectiveresponses to Māori housing issues.

Engagement and partnership with the Māori housing sector

The Māori housing sector is diverse, reflecting the nature of thevarious communities, landholdings and support networks. While thisdiversity can contribute to fragmentation within the Māori housingsector, it also presents an opportunity for the Māori Housing Networkto better integrate and build upon the existing areas of activity byserving as a key facilitator of Māori housing initiatives.

It is important that the Māori Housing Network has visibility of thework being undertaken across the Māori housing sector and does notinadvertently undermine or duplicate existing efforts. As in itsengagement with other government agencies, the Māori HousingNetwork will seek to work in partnership with other groups in theMāori housing sector to build upon the existing efforts by leveraging,influencing and providing direct support for housing initiatives. Wherethere are identified gaps in the services and support being provided bythe sector, or through other government initiatives, the Māori HousingNetwork will seek to introduce innovative and complementary newinitiatives.

Investment principles

In line with this approach to enagement, the Māori Housing Network’sinvestments in Māori housing will be guided by the following set ofprinciples:

• The Māori Housing Network will invest in response to the housingneeds and aspirations of Māori, as identified through activeengagement with whānau, hapū and iwi Māori.

• The Māori Housing Network will invest in initiatives that have aclear value proposition that aligns with the strategic focus areasof the Māori Housing Network.

• The Māori Housing Network’s investment should leverage othersources of public or private investment wherever possible.

• Investment decisions will favour proposals that demonstrate anability to create long-term, sustainable value for the Māorihousing sector and, ultimately, for whānau.

Engagement principles

The Māori Housing Network will also be guided by a set of engagementprinciples that are premised upon whānau Māori pursuing and realisingan improved quality of life. These are:

• Value for people and relationships – the Māori Housing Networkwill act with integrity and treat others with respect. It will becooperative and inclusive.

• Direct engagement - the Māori Housing Network will seek toengage directly with whānau, hapū, iwi Māori and communitieswherever possible on its investments.

• Diversity - the Māori Housing Network accept the unique natureof each housing situation and will coordinate various forms ofsupport to deliver tailored solutions.

• Innovation - the Māori Housing Network will test ideas, generatenew knowledge, learn from others and apply new knowledge toobtain solutions.

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• Transparency and accountability – the Māori Housing Networkwill operate in a fully transparent and open manner, withdecision-making flexibility afforded within defined processes andprocedures.

The current state of Māori housingMāori housing need, characterised by poor quality of housing, highrates of tenancy subsidies, and low rates of home ownership, has beena long-standing problem. There are a number of measures used toidentify housing need (such as those relating to severe housingdeprivation, social housing tenancy, and receipt of rental subsidy).Māori are over-represented on virtually all of the measures:

• A total of 11,730 Māori currently experience severe housingdeprivation.*

• An estimated 1,290 Māori are homeless, 235 are in emergencyaccommodation, 1,056 live in commercial accommodation or onmarae, and 9,149 live in severely overcrowded private homes.*

• A further 22,184 Māori (34.5% of all recipients) receive anincome related rent subsidy as Housing New ZealandCorporation clients.*

In addition:

• A total of 89,434 Māori (42% of all recipients) receive an incomeand asset-tested Accommodation Supplement.**

• 43% of Māori (237,297) are living in owner occupied homes,compared to the national average of 64.8%.***

Poor housing outcomes impact negatively upon other social outcomes(e.g. health, education, employment). This can lead to inter-generational cycles of deprivation. Working to realise the housingaspirations of whānau will in turn have inter-generational benefits forwhānau and society as a whole.

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Māori housing challenges and opportunitiesMāori housing challenges and opportunities exist to varying degreesacross a broad spectrum, from whānau living in severe housingdeprivation to those building large scale developments on their own land.While this means that the housing needs of whānau vary significantly, thebroad areas of need on which action should be focused are outlined inthe diagram below:

Housing security

& sustainability

Housing supply

& accessHousing quality

Good quality housing

provides a healthy, and

economically efficient,

environment for whānau

wellbeing.

Increasing the supply and

accessibility of social and

affordable housing for rent

and home ownership enables

whānau to move out of poor

quality, unaffordable housing.

Security of one’s housing situation and

the sustainability of housing choices

(e.g. home ownership) enables the

realisation of intergenerational social

and economic benefits derived from

good quality housing. *Amore K, Viggers H, Baker, MG, & Howden-Chapman, P (2013). Severe housing deprivation: The problem and its measurement, Official Statistics Research Series, 6.

**Ministry of Social Development data (March 2015).***2013 Census, Statistics New Zealand.

The spectrum of activities of the Māori Housing NetworkIn response to the identified housing challenges and opportunities for Māori, the range of activities supported by the Māori Housing Network couldpotentially span the entire housing spectrum. By way of illustration, some of these possible activities on both the demand side and supply side areoutlined in the diagram below. The specific areas of focus for the Māori Housing Network will be determined on an annual basis, according to demand,need and available resources.

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Strategic focus areas for 2015-18The Māori Housing Network has three medium-term strategic focusareas that will help guide its response to the identified housingchallenges and opportunities for Māori. These focus areas indicateparticular aspects of the Māori housing sector in which the MāoriHousing Network expects to see focused improvement over the termof this investment strategy.

In selecting these three issues as its strategic focus areas, the MāoriHousing Network intends to build on the progress to date indeveloping the Māori housing sector. The alignment of its activities tothese focus areas will enable the Māori Housing Network to operateacross each of the three broad areas of need identified on page 6(housing quality, housing access and supply, and housing security andsustainability).

The ways in which the Māori Housing Network is expected to build upits operating capacity over the life of the investment strategy isoutlined under each of the focus areas. Some of the key signs that ithas been successful in doing this are provided for each focus area.

Focus area 1: Improving the quality of housing for whānau

There is a complex, inter-woven range of factors that contribute towhānau Māori living in sub-standard housing situations. These includepoor educational achievement, limited financial resources, poorfinancial literacy, adverse family structures (e.g. sole parenthouseholds), and demographic factors.

The Māori Housing Network will provide a range of services and formsof support in order to help whānau Māori to improve the quality oftheir housing situations. For those with desperate housing needs, thismay mean accessing short-term emergency housing facilities ormoving out of housing deprivation and into secure social or privaterental housing. For other whānau, this could mean undertakingemergency repairs or even rebuilding their homes on their own land.

• Contributing to emergency housing solutions for whānau withdesperate housing needs.

• Providing funding for home repairs, relocations, new builds, orinfrastructure works to provide basic amenities.

• Engaging with whānau at a community level to assess their housingneeds and direct them to government/private sector services orfunding to match their needs.

• The Māori Housing Network has successfully piloted innovativeemergency housing solutions for whānau Māori, which will be used toinform other emergency housing responses.

• The Māori Housing Network’s information on Māori housing is informedthrough effective engagement at the local level with whānau andcommunities.

• The Māori Housing Network has a detailed short-term view of demandfor its services and funding support, and an understanding of the longerterm development opportunities.

Signs of the Māori Housing Network’s success in this area:

Housing

security &

sustainability

Housing

supply

& access

Housing

quality

The services and support that theMāori Housing Network will provide inthis area will respond to Māori housingneed by improving housing quality, aswell as housing security andsustainability for whānau.

Specifically, the actions of the MāoriHousing Network in relation to focusarea 1 will include:

Focus area 2: Building the capability of whānau, hapū and iwiwithin the Māori housing sector

In order to create a self-directed Māori housing sector, it is importantthat leadership of the sector and self-sufficiency for improving the stateof Māori housing is supported.

In recent years there has been a steady growth of capability within theMāori housing sector. It is important that the Māori Housing Networkcapitalises upon this growth within the sector to further develop thecapacity of whānau, hapū and iwi Māori. The Māori Housing Networkwill support Māori that have the potential to provide leadership throughthe development and delivery of sustainable housing solutions forMāori.

• Providing funding for housing project management, proposaldevelopment, feasibility studies and other capability relatedactivities.

• Engaging with Māori housing providers for the purpose ofinformation brokerage and relationship facilitation.

• Organising and holding papakāinga and home ownershipworkshops.

• Developing a register of Māori housing providers operating withinthe sector to understand the level of capability that currentlyexists.

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• The Māori Housing Network has a register of Māori housing providers and understands the level of capability that exists across providers.

• The Māori Housing Network supports an increasing number of Māori to become housing providers.

• The Māori Housing Network actively supports capability building within the Māori housing sector and the sharing of expertise and knowledge.

Signs of the Māori Housing Network’s success in this area:

The services and support that the MāoriHousing Network will provide in this arearespond to all of the broad areas of Māorihousing need, by building the capabilityof Māori within the housing sector torespond to these challenges

Specifically, the actions of the MāoriHousing Network that relate to focusarea 2 include:

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Focus area 3: Increasing the supply of affordable housing forMāori

The New Zealand housing market is currently under pressure. The shortageof affordable housing has resulted in a backlog of high housing need,particularly among whānau with low income. As a result, more whānau areforced into housing that is increasingly unaffordable, of poor quality and lesssuited to whānau needs. An increase in the supply of affordable housing isurgently needed to enable whānau Māori to move from deprivation anddependence towards opportunity and independence, and an enhancedquality of life.

The Government has signalled its desire to expand and diversify the marketfor social and affordable housing developments. Māori want to play a role inproviding a range of tenure arrangements from social rentals to affordablehome-ownership options, but enabling them to do so will require supportfrom Government.

• Influencing the policy levers of other government agencies to bedirected towards increasing the supply of affordable housing forMāori.

• Building on relationships with communities to contribute to theGovernment’s wider policies on housing affordability.

• The number of housing developments supported by the Māori Housing Network has increased.

• The Māori Housing Network is actively gathering and disseminating information on the most common barriers to successful housing developments.

• The Māori Housing Network has developed exemplars and models of user-friendly regulatory processes around housing developments.

Signs of the Māori Housing Network’s success in this area:

The services and support that the MāoriHousing Network will provide, in relation tofocus area 3 will respond to Māori housingneed by increasing housing supply andaccess, as well as housing security andsustainability for whānau.

Specific actions will include:

• Providing capital grant funding toMāori housing providers to contributeto (not fully fund) the development ofsmall-scale affordable housingsolutions.

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Delivery of the investment strategyThe Government plays an important role in the Māori housing sector.There are currently five housing accords which include commitmentsfrom the Crown to support iwi in meeting their housing aspirations fortheir members, and further relationship commitments are beingestablished as part of upcoming Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

The Government is also involved in leading actions through multipleagencies to improve Māori housing, including identifying opportunitiesfor Māori arising from the Social Housing Reform Programme andintroducing the Māori Housing Strategy. The establishment of the MāoriHousing Network and the support it will provide to the Māori housingsector fit firmly within this context.

However, beyond the Government, there are Māori housing providers,whānau, hapū and iwi whose actions contribute to the improvement ofhousing outcomes for Māori. The Māori housing sector will be mosteffective when all parts are coordinated and strong relationships exist.

The Māori Housing Network’s engagement and partnership approach willbe key to enabling a greater level of cooperation and coordination to beforged across the Māori housing sector.

Indicators of successful delivery of the investment strategy

This investment strategy articulates how the Māori Housing Network willbuild its capability over the next three years such that it is best placed toco-ordinate the Government’s response to Māori housing challenges andopportunities. The Māori Housing Network will develop successindicators under each of the strategic focus areas for monitoring theeffectiveness of its efforts in this regard.

He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata - the Māori Housing Strategyoutlines the way in which this work will have a meaningful impact on thehousing circumstances of whānau. The extent to which the MāoriHousing Network effectively contributes to the achievement of the

outcomes outlined in the Māori Housing Strategy will be evidencedthrough the strategy’s monitoring and reporting arrangements.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is in the processof developing an evaluation model and detailed success indicators forthe Māori Housing Strategy that will provide an accountabilityframework for monitoring progress towards achieving the identifiedoutcomes. The Māori Housing Network will work closely with theMinistry of Business, Innovation and Employment in the developmentof this framework.